Outgoing Lebanon PM, 3 former ministers charged over Beirut blast

10 December 2020, 2:45 pm

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The lead investigator of the catastrophic August 4 blast at the Lebanese capital’s port indicted outgoing premier Hassan Diab and three ex-ministers on charges of negligence, a judicial source says..

The damaged site and grain silo following the massive August 4 blast in Beirut’s port area, in Beirut on August 31, 2020. (GONZALO FUENTES / POOL / AFP)

The decision by judge Fadi Sawan to indict Diab and ex-ministers Ali Hasan Khalil, Ghazi Zaeiter and Youssef Fenianos came after a blast probe “confirmed that they (the suspects) have received several written notices warning them against postponing the disposal of ammonium nitrate fertilizer,” which authorities say was behind the August 4 blast, the source says.

“They did not take the necessary measures to avoid the devastating explosion and its enormous damages,” the source says.

— AFP